The machine blends iron, bleach and sodium hydroxide to form a dark purple liquid mixture of ferrate, salt and water that gets metered into the water supply. (The color disappears instantly as it reacts with the water.) Common disinfectants ozone and chlorine can turn the water cloudy or, worse, leave behind harmful chemical by-products.

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There are a number of different reactors in use, most commonly water-cooled pressurised or boiling water reactors - though other reactor types are kept cool with the help of liquid metal, gas or molten salt.

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In cystic fibrosis, this mechanism is far less effective, because the level of salt concentration in the airway surface liquid is far too high.

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Rival ideas withered, among them the thorium liquid-fuel reactor, powered by molten fluoride salt containing thorium.

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In the right circumstances these channels will allow the passage of sodium ions (the liquid to be investigated must have these added in the form of sodium chloride, or common salt, if they are not present naturally).

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His idea: a better molten salt mixture that would store heat at higher temperatures to boost electricity production but that would remain liquid at lower temperatures so less energy would be diverted to keep it from solidifying.

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